Spontaneousness

Spontaneousness
Spontaneous Spon*ta"ne*ous (sp[o^]n*t[=a]"n[-e]*[u^]s), a. [L. spontaneus, fr. sponte of free will, voluntarily.] 1. Proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint; as, a spontaneous gift or proposition. [1913 Webster]

2. Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or natural law, without external force; as, spontaneous motion; spontaneous growth. [1913 Webster]

3. Produced without being planted, or without human labor; as, a spontaneous growth of wood. [1913 Webster]

{Spontaneous combustion}, combustion produced in a substance by the evolution of heat through the chemical action of its own elements; as, the spontaneous combustion of waste matter saturated with oil.

{Spontaneous generation}. (Biol.) See under {Generation}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Voluntary; uncompelled; willing.

Usage: {Spontaneous}, {Voluntary}. What is voluntary is the result of a volition, or act of choice; it therefore implies some degree of consideration, and may be the result of mere reason without excited feeling. What is spontaneous springs wholly from feeling, or a sudden impulse which admits of no reflection; as, a spontaneous burst of applause. Hence, the term is also applied to things inanimate when they are produced without the determinate purpose or care of man. ``Abstinence which is but voluntary fasting, and . . . exercise which is but voluntary labor.'' --J. Seed. [1913 Webster]

Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play, The soul adopts, and owns their firstborn away. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] -- {Spon*ta"ne*ous*ly}, adv. -- {Spon*ta"ne*ous*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • spontaneousness — noun see spontaneous …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spontaneousness — See spontaneously. * * * …   Universalium

  • spontaneousness — noun The state or condition of being spontaneous; spontaneity …   Wiktionary

  • spontaneousness — spon·ta·ne·ous·ness || spÉ‘n teɪnɪəsnɪs /spÉ’n n. state of being spontaneous; quality of being unpremeditated, quality of being impromptu …   English contemporary dictionary

  • spontaneousness — n. Spontaneity …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • spontaneousness — spon·ta·ne·ous·ness …   English syllables

  • spontaneousness — See: spontaneous …   English dictionary

  • spontaneousness — noun the quality of being spontaneous and coming from natural feelings without constraint the spontaneity of his laughter • Syn: ↑spontaneity • Derivationally related forms: ↑spontaneous, ↑spontaneous (for: ↑spontaneity) …   Useful english dictionary

  • spontaneity — noun the quality of being spontaneous and coming from natural feelings without constraint (Freq. 3) the spontaneity of his laughter • Syn: ↑spontaneousness • Derivationally related forms: ↑spontaneous (for: ↑spontaneousness) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Voluntariness — Vol un*ta*ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being voluntary; spontaneousness; specifically, the quality or state of being free in the exercise of one s will. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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